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Signet ring carcinoma parotid gland: a case report
Meeta Singh1, Nita Khurana, Rachna Wadhwa
1Department of Pathology, Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi, India. meetamamc@gmail.com
Background:
Signet ring adenocarcinoma is a recently characterized entity occurring in the minor salivary glands. All reported cases have occurred in minor salivary gland. Pure signet ring adenocarcinoma of a major salivary gland has not been reported in the literature.
Methods:
A 38-year-old woman presented with a mass in the parotid region. Microscopy showed signet ring cells positive for mucicarmine. Immunohistochemistry showed cytokeratin and focal smooth muscle actin (SMA) positivity; an exhaustive search for primary elsewhere did not reveal any suspicious focus.
Results:
A diagnosis of low-grade signet ring adenocarcinoma of the parotid gland was made. On 6-month follow-up the patient was alive and well.
Conclusions:
The present case highlights a rare occurrence of this tumor in the parotid gland, which until now was labeled as a tumor exclusive to minor salivary glands. Thus this entity should be kept as a differential while investigating mucinous tumors of parotid.
